Event | Console Crash Chaos | Phase One

[cherrywood]

Characters: ALL!
Date: April 17-30, 2014
Location: Keeliai
Situation: In an unexpected and bold attack by Malicant, the console system is completely shut down while food and supply locations all around the city are targeted by bombings.
Warnings/Rating: Explosions! Possible descriptions of related aftermaths, injuries, death, etc.

Shortly after eight in the morning of the 17th, the consoles experience a strange glitching effect. They'll display 15-20 seconds of static, interrupting anything being done on them at the time, before going utterly dark. No power, no signal, completely offline even to detection of their normal bio-mechanical signatures. No amount of energy influx will get them going again, though taking them apart (or trying to) will still cause them to melt into goo.

Within minutes of the console shutdown, explosions will begin ripping through Keeliai. The bombs are all timed as close to simultaneous as coordinating a city-wide attack can be, with many going off within seconds of each other, throwing the thriving morning rush into chaos. They tear into businesses and across public spaces, collapsing walls and blowing piles of debris into the streets. Places of high traffic quickly become evident as prime targets: marketplaces, hospitals, schools and cafes. The streets take only moments to fill with panicking, screaming kedan trying to pull their injured fellows out of harm's way. All told, the explosions take place across approximately a 10-minute stretch and their explosive yields are fairly high.

In addition to the bombs that cause destruction through their blasts, smaller bombs are going off around the city that specifically target food and water supplies, particularly where large stocks of it were kept such as grocers, produce markets, and the like. Rather than cause mass damage, these explosions spray out a fine mist of spores. Any perishables in their immediate area that are splattered develop an oozing black mold within minutes, eventually breaking down organic substances that turn to foul smelling rot and release their own mist, perpetuating the cycle. While skin contact with the mist doesn't harm, inhaling or ingesting it will produce shakes, fever, vomiting with a cumulative effect that has the potential to be fatal. It is much slower to infect the water supply but the sheer volume of rotting perishables will eventually put enough of the spores to taint water sources, approximately 6-8 hours after the original bombings.

The police force are out as soon as possible and within the hour are helping move the injured to safer locations with Evandau in charge, right in their midst and shoulder to shoulder with his subordinates. Not being stockpiles for any of the apparent targets, many of the Foreigner residences have been left undamaged and, wary of putting them in further danger by collecting large groups in public spaces, Foreigners may even be asked to take in a few individuals or a kedan family.

Despite the number of explosions, there are far more reports of injuries as opposed to casualties. The person or persons (or That Bad Guy) responsible for this were, for this attack at least, more intent on damage than on death.

---

LINKS
Fire Sector | Earth Sector | Metal Sector | Water Sector | Wood Sector
Treating the Injured & Safe Houses | Investigations | OOC Plot Post

OOC NOTE: Remember that the consoles and network will be completely offline for the duration of this aspect of the the plot running April 17-23, though Foreigner tech is not affected. Plot questions can be directed to this comment. Have fun!

Comments

[solo_patria]

No, you are certainly no child.

[In fact, to look at her, Enjolras doubts that she ever was, much less that she belonged to anyone. There is something of the look of Gavroche in her face, and expression, which tells him a good deal of what he needs to know.]

As you have come to help, then I'll not turn you away. You know enough what you are here for then, and the republic is glad to have you at its side.

[He's not considered it before, but La Marianne herself is a woman, and so, why should a woman not fight along beside her?]

So you will be as Jeanne d'Arc was once, though I should hope we end better than that. You will be welcome.

[jondrette]

Good, for the only way I shall leave is in death or in chains.

[She won't run. She will face her death, the death she came to embrace.]

Jeanne d'Arc lead the people of France. I lead no one.

[solo_patria]

[Enjolras's nod is slight, but approving, as he reaches out, briefly, to clasp her hand.]

Then you are welcome among us.

And fair enough. We do have our leaders here. If they are to be found now.

[His eyes are scanning the crowd now, for Feuilly, or Courfeyrac, or anyone else of his lieutenants placed in charge of something.]

And I think now that your advice of looking for a way out seems the best.

[jondrette]

It is not often I am welcome anywhere.

[She nods.] I can attend to that.

[solo_patria]

Well, for whatever it is worth, among our company, you will be.

You do know that we may not survive? I hope to pull as many as I might from this when it gets bigger, the fighting, but...

It is still likely some of us will fall.

And thank you for that.

[jondrette]

I came here expecting not to survive.

[solo_patria]

You...

[Enjolras blinks at that news, surprised by the fact of that.]

Even in the face of what may come, you...

Well. I suppose that we will see what comes.

[jondrette]

I do not fear death, m'sieur. To fear it would be foolish, if you live as I do.

Now, come! I shall find us an exit. [With that, she moves to find a way to get the civilians out]

[solo_patria]

Good.

[The word is simple, and the handclasp Enjolras is pausing to give her is firm. He may not have intended on having a woman joining them, but now that she is here, and fearless, he will certainly use her talents as she offers them.]

And yes, of course.

[Now he's moving to assist civilians as he can and pointing them in her direction as he can.]

[philosophe]

[Combeferre will likely be doing the same, having returned from wherever he was finding bandages and possibly useful things. He chances a glance at Enjolras.]

She is with us, then?

[solo_patria]

She is.

[And it occurs to Enjolras that, perhaps, he has seen the woman before. He's uncertain of how just now, but her face is not SO unfamiliar as all of that. No time to puzzle it now, but...]

I believe she came with Courfeyrac.

[And he is frowning, unsure of why his brain has supplied that, and then scanning the room for their missing center. Likely he's still outside with his own group, but the thought is a bit worrying.]

[philosophe]

With Courfeyrac? Where is he? [There's a cautious frown, and he glances around just to make certain that he is not among the wounded.]

Have you been outside, of late?

[solo_patria]

I am not certain of that myself. It occurred to me that we must take a roll, and soon. I have not seen Feuilly since the attack either.

[That frown is mirrored on his own face now.]

I last checked with them perhaps...ten minutes before the cannon? Not so long ago, but worth looking now, especially if we mean to regroup.

[philosophe]

I shall go and see; there may be wounded out there that we have not got to yet.

[He is hurrying, then, gathering any spare strips of cloth he might find and moving to poke his head outside, cautious.]

[solo_patria]

Likely, yes. I'll direct the evacuation of those who can be moved then?

We'll need to find somewhere to guard them later, somewhere safe, but for now, I think moving around the back, as was suggested, is perhaps the best.

[Their unexpected help may know something as well of where to go. Enjolras finds himself wishing that it was already complete and those in the cafe were already safe though. If they were he would be able to join Combeferre sooner.]

I can come to you when that's been done. I...be careful? The last thing that we need just now is losing you.

[philosophe]

Yes, if you would. [He turns and gives Enjolras a softer smile than he anticipated, which gives him a moment of pause, but there is work to be done and Courfeyrac to be found, so to business.]

Of course I will, my dear, do not worry. [--And he exits,, to return a few moments later, looking somewhat disconcerted.] He was not -- it did not look at all like Paris, Apollon.

[solo_patria]

[Was that smile...there's no time to ponder it now, so Enjolras shoves the stray thought aside to consider it later, joining in with directing traffic, though he's stopping as Combeferre returns.]

Is the damage so great as that, or?

[And then he's getting a good look, an actually good look at a few of the people who are slipping out to safety through Eponine's path and, well. They do not seem clearly human and... He's blinking a little, turning back to Combeferre, not wishing to be the one to ask it but...]

The people, do they not seem different as well?

[philosophe]

They do, I had thought it had might be the light, but -- [He gestures over to the door he recently came through.]

Take a look.

[solo_patria]

I just realized myself. I did not want to mention...

[And he is stepping outside himself then, coming back in with a rather dazed expression.]

But this...it hardly makes sense.

[philosophe]

[He's shaking his head a bit, frowning thoughtfully as he glances at the door.]

--Ah. Yes. ...We have been here some time. I recall a little of it.

[solo_patria]

I think, yes.

[Enjolras is, and feels a little lost, but even so, he's getting back a few things himself.]

Eponine. The mademoiselle helping us. We came to know her here though she was...she died upon our barricade. And you.

[Here, Enjolras is reaching for Combeferre's hand, rather quickly.]

I am glad that you are relatively unscathed in all of the mess. We've been coming here some time, I think. I do remember that.

[philosophe]

Yes. [He's taking the offered hand and squeezing it, a bit gingerly.]

Nearly a year now, I think; but -- perhaps it was ...the loud noises? It does look as though there was a cannon, but I do not see any more evidence than that.

[solo_patria]

Yes, rather that. A bit longer for you, I think. You were here when I arrived. And we...

[A name comes to his mind then, and Enjolras spends a moment as the implications of actually saying it rush over him, then frowns.]

It looks very much like that. It is as though the work of M...of our enemy can blast us back in time ourselves. And quite effectively. I can see where we might...and perhaps if we'd hit our heads. I do not THINK, though, that I lost consciousness, did you?

[And there is a pause and Enjolras suddenly looks much more concerned.]

I doubt that there was only one attack and it was here. Business is good but this is hardly a place that everyone comes to. God knows what it is like in the other sectors.

[philosophe]

Yes, I think it has been over a year now. [Now that he is reassured there is no cannon looming nearby, no guardsmen, he goes to investigate the site of the blasts, looking curious.]

I did not. [He replies, abstractedly, frowning at some of the pieces of wood.] If there are so many wounded here, we might look about in other places, see if help is needed.

[solo_patria]

Yes, likely so. And to find out what's happened to everyone else. At least...I think that more of us are here. It's so strange, how suddenly it seemed to fade. I remember things often but not...

As soon as everyone is out of here, we ought to try. I would not leave Eponine alone with this, though she does appear to have it well under control.